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McGill's new sexual assault policy gets unanimous approval

Author of the article:

Karen Seidman • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:

November 25, 2016 • 2 minute read

On Wednesday, McGill University's senate unanimously approved the latest version of a sexual assault policy, which has been a point of contention on campus since 2013.Photo by Allen McInnis/ The Gazette

After much debate and dissension, it seems that McGill University is well on its way to having a new sexual assault policy — one that even has the blessing of student groups on campus.

On Wednesday, the university’s senate unanimously approved the latest version of a sexual assault policy, which has been a point of contention on campus since 2013. It is now just awaiting final approval from the board of governors on Dec. 1.

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The latest rendition of the policy seems to have satisfied many of the students’ most important concerns and some of its provisions are already being implemented.

Angela Campbell, associate provost of policies, procedures and equity, said the university understood the students’ desire to have more clarity and support for survivors in the policy.

“Student support was essential and remains essential,” she said in an interview. “We needed students to feel their interests were reflected in the policy.”

The policy is viewed as “a serious improvement from what they showed us in September,” said Angela Yu, an equity and diversity commissioner for McGill’s Post-Graduate Students’ Society. “There’s always work to do but it’s a really important starting point.”

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Erin Sobat, vice-president of university affairs for the Students’ Society of McGill University, agreed. He also said students have come to view the policy as a good starting point and not the end point of the discussion regarding sexual assault.

“There was a lot missing from the September draft in terms of content and specificity and commitments to real increases in resources,” he said in an interview. “The actual creation of a centralized office is important and is something students have been calling for for several years.”

McGill has already started setting up a new office to deal with sexual assault cases and is hiring a second person so there will be two full-time staff. They’re also looking at new software for better data gathering, said Campbell. All told, she said, the resources in place already represent triple the allocation from a year ago, although she couldn’t specify a dollar amount.

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Sobat said some of the improvements students wanted to see include education for the whole community and clarity around respecting the wishes of individuals who don’t want to report sexual assault, as well as obtaining academic accommodation for survivors who need support.

He said the policy is the result of a lot of advocacy and activism from dedicated students over many years.

Once adopted, a committee will oversee an implementation plan.

Campbell said the policy makes it clear the university is acknowledging “the institutional relevance” of sexual assault and its impact on survivors.

“This policy is a message telegraphed to the university community in a very formal and explicit way about the university’s perspective on this issue.”